Devi Asmarani, Jakarta – The former commander of the Indonesian Forces in East Timor, Major-General Kiki Syahnakri, has been promoted to the position of deputy army chief of staff, the Indonesian military announced yesterday.
Maj-Gen Kiki, who is now the regional military commander overseeing Bali and West Timor, will fill the position that has been left vacant since General Endriartono Sutarto became the army chief last month.
He is among the 93 other top officers from the army, navy and air force who were affected by yesterday's reshuffle within the military, known by the acronym TNI.
TNI spokesman Air Rear-Marshal Graito Usodo said Maj-Gen Kiki was the best choice for the post. "He is the best pick because of his experience, knowledge, rank and education and the TNI needs someone with his credibility and quality.
"He is also backed by other top army officers," Rear-Marshal Graito said, adding that acceptance within the army was a major consideration for promotion.
The general headed the TNI security operation in East Timor after last year's referendum there. Some legislators are surprised at his promotion because of his perceived failures in handling security issues on East Timor's border with Indonesia.
There had been rumours that he would be moved to the less prestigious position of chief of the Armed Forces Staff and Command School in Bandung, West Java.
Since he became the Udayana regional military commander last year, armed pro-Indonesia militiamen have continued to run free in West Timor. Foreign peacekeepers and relief workers have been attacked.
In the latest incident, a pro-Indonesia mob killed three United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees workers in Atambua, triggering worldwide criticism at the lax security in the area. Since the attack, a number of people have been arrested, while the government has stepped up efforts to disarm the militias.
Yesterday, Air Rear-Marshal Graito said the position of deputy army chief was strategically important. "It is common to assume that an army, air force or navy deputy will succeed his superior," he said.
Yesterday's reshuffle also affected officers such as Maj-Gen I Putu Sastra, the commander of the Presidential Security Guards, who will be moved to a desk position at TNI headquarters, and Irian Jaya military commander Maj-Gen Albert Inkiriwang, who will be moved to the Defence Ministry's headquarters.